Phytosociological analysis of the Juniper communities of SCI IT9110015 “Duna e Lago di Lesina – Foce del Fortore” (Apulia)

Coastal dune systems provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as, among others, prevention of coastal erosion and protection from extreme events. Nevertheless, the maintenance of coastal dune systems is strictly related to the conservation status of plant species and community types. In many parts of the world, and especially in the Mediterranean area, coastal dune systems are highly threatened with tourist exploitation, coastal erosion, and introduction of alien species among the main drivers of change, and undergo different forms of degradation, such as habitat alteration, reduction and fragmentation. The Natura 2000 site IT9110015 – “Duna e Lago di Lesina-Foce del Fortore” (northern Apulia) is characterized by one of the most extensive coastal dune systems in southern Italy, with an overall coastline extent of about 34 km. Specifically, this contribution focused on the priority habitat type 2250* - “Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.”, with the aim of analysing and characterising it in the site from a phytosociological point of view. The data set of this study is part of a wider one of about 150 phytosociological relevés performed from 2015 to 2024 and covering the entire coastal dune system. A sub-set of 48 relevés, with dominant Juniperus macrocarpa Sm. and J. turbinata Guss., was subjected to multivariate analysis. The results allowed the detection of different types of Juniperus communities, all belonging to the Asparago orientalis-Juniperion macrocarpae (Diez Garretas et Asensi 2014) Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 alliance, and suggested the distance from the sea, among the analyzed features, influences their distribution, floristic composition, and structure. Further investigations on soil structure and composition, as well as on the spatial distribution and the contacts between Juniperus communities and the others, would be useful to better outline present and future ecological dynamics.